Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/163

TIMOJfHANES DESPOT. 137 to the enemy. TLe remaining horsemen fled, leaving their com mander to what seemed certain destruction ; but Timoleon, who was serving among the hoplites, rushed singly forth from the ranks with his utmost speed, and covered Timophanes with his shield, when th j enemy were just about to pierce him. He made head singlehaudcd against them, warding off numerous spears and darts, and successfully protected his fallen brother until succor ar- rived ; though at the cost of several wounds to himself. 1 This act of generous devotion raised great admiration towards fimoleon. But it also procured sympathy for Timophanes, who less deserved it. The Corinthians had recently incurred great risk of seeing their city fall into the hands of their Athenian allies, who had laid a plan to seize it, but were disappointed through timely notice given at Corinth. 3 To arm the people be- ing regarded as dangerous to the existing oligarchy, 3 it was judg- ed expedient to equip a standing force of four hundred paid for- eign soldiers, and establish them as a permanent garrison in the strong and lofty citadel. The command of this garrison, with the mastery of the fort, was intrusted to Timophanes. A worse choice could not have been made. The new commander se- conded not only by his regiment and his strong position, but also by some violent partisans whom he took into his pay and armed, among the poorer citizens speedily stood forth as despot, taking the whole government into his own hands. He seized numbers of the chief citizens, probably all the members of the oligarchi- cal councils who resisted his orders, and put them to death with- out even form of trial. 4 Now, when it was too late, the Corin- 1 Plutarch, Timoleon, c. 4. At what time this battle took place cannot be made out. 2 Plutarch, Timoleon, c. 4. 'Enel <T ol Kopivdioi, deSiorec; pj nudoiev air. nat Trporepov inrb r&v ov/u.[iux.uv u.Tro[3a?i6vTf TTJV 7ro/Uv, etc. Tha Corinthians -were carrying on war, in conjunction with Athens and SparU, against Thebes, when (in 366 B. c.) the Athenians laid their plan for seizing the city. The Corinthians, having heard of it in time, took measures to frustrate it. See Xenophon, Hellen. vii. 4, 4-5. 3 Aristotel. Politic, v. 5, 9. 4 Plutarch, Timoleon, c. 4. ct^voiif uvehui uKpirovf ruv Trpuruv irohi- luv, uve6ei^ev avrbf vavrbv rvpavvov. Diodorus (xvi. 65) coincides in the main fact but differs in several details 12*